Media release

Date: October 25, 2005

Inspiring Instructors Get Alumni Teaching Awards

—Recipients to be honoured at Legacy Awards gala, Nov. 22—

A psychology professor and a music instructor who have each developed effective, highly original classroom techniques are the 2005 recipients of the UVic Alumni Association’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching.
Dr. Martin Smith, a psychology professor, and David Clenman, a sessional instructor in the school of music, will be honoured during the Legacy Awards gala dinner, Nov. 22 at the Victoria Conference Centre.
“Outstanding teachers have profound impacts upon their students that are life-changing and life-long,” says UVic Alumni Association President Larry Cross. “These awards recognize the contributions that such teachers make in the lives of UVic students.”
Smith, who teaches large classes of about 300 students in his Psychology 100 course, provides a learning experience that is inclusive and personalized. He uses photos of students to memorize names, employs a variety of multimedia tools, and quickly moves around the lecture hall to ask questions and engage the whole group.
Clenman teaches courses in music history and music theory. He brings the history of music to life, often by appearing in class in costume (the first class begins with Clenman entering the room dressed as Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and music theorist).
Both Smith and Clenman have earned outstanding reviews from students and colleagues. Each will receive $2,000 from the alumni association and their portraits will hang in the McPherson Library, along with the 33 others who’ve received the award since it was started by the UVic Alumni Association in 1989.
The award is divided into two categories, one for regular faculty members (the “Harry Hickman Award,” named for the late French professor and respected administrator) and one for sessional instructors (the “Gilian Sherwin Award,” named for the late, respected geography instructor).
The Nov. 22 Legacy Awards will also recognize Distinguished Alumni, UVic Sports Hall of Fame inductees, and Blue and Gold Awards (student community service).
Legacy Awards tickets are available at (250) 721-7445 or online at alumni.uvic.ca/events. Last year 450 people attended the Legacy Awards, raising more than $30,000 for student scholarships and athletic awards.